Gunmen kidnap Lagos doctor, demand N20m

A medical doctor working at the Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos, has been abducted by gunmen.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim, Funsho Junaid, who is a consultant gynaecologist, was kidnapped at Livingstone Hospital, Adedayo Adedeji Street, Abaranje, Ikotun.

Our correspondent gathered that Junaid was attending to patients last Friday when three gunmen whisked him away.

It was learnt that one of the kidnappers posed as a patient and while Junaid was attending to him, he pointed a gun at the doctor.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity said, “Last week Tuesday, a patient came to see the doctor, we registered him at the counter and he was given treatment. He was also billed N5,500.

“He complained that the money was too high, but the doctor said he could get medication elsewhere. On Friday night, around 9pm, the same guy came back to renegotiate with the doctor, but nurses denied him access.

“The guy left the hospital while another guy came in. The second guy that came in said he wanted to see the doctor so nurses registered him and gave him a new card.

“As the doctor was attending to him, he brought out a gun. Suddenly, the patient that had left earlier came back with a gun as well and ordered all the nurses to lie face down.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that the assailants, who came in a Toyota car, forced the victim into the back seat and drove off.

It was learnt that the following day, the suspects contacted the victim’s wife and asked her to pay N20m to secure his release.

When our correspondent visited the victim’s house, which is situated in the same compound with the Livingstone Hospital, a crowd was seen coming in droves to commiserate with his wife.

His wife was distraught and could not talk with our correspondent. However, colleagues of the victim from the Alimosho General Hospital, described him as a man who put the needs of others before himself.

One of them said, “Dr Junaid is a very hardworking man. He set up a private hospital in this area so that he can attend to the needs of the poor.

“He is not the kind of person that puts money first. We hope that by God’s grace, he will be released soon.”

It was learnt that because the victim’s house was also a Winners’ chapel fellowship centre, many from the church members had been frequenting the house to say prayers.

It was learnt that the victim, who hails from Abeokuta in Ogun State, had two young children.

Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that kidnappings had risen in Lagos State in the past one month as more than seven cases had been reported at various stations.

Sources told our correspondent that the cases being reported were only a fraction of the true number.

Police SitRep (Situation Reports) made available to our correspondent showed that last week, three siblings were kidnapped by one Iheanachor Collins at Iyana Iba.

It was learnt that the police were, however, able to rescue the victims and arrest the suspect.

It was learnt that one Anabel Ogwu was also kidnapped at Omole Estate phase 2 in the Isheri area of the state, while a ransome of N500,000 was demanded from the family.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said efforts were on to rescue the victim.

PUNCH